Events and Consequences, Part Five

Tomas
Brolin had been in excellent form for his Italian Club Parma for many seasons
and had just had an excellent World Cup in USA 1994.

This
injury wrecked his career as he was never the same player afterwards.

By
the next season he was transferred to Leeds United. After a disappointing spell
he was loaned to FC Zurich and ended up at Crystal Palace, but never regaining
his old form.

Finally,
on August 12, 1998, Tomas Brolin announced his retirement at age 28, due to
injuries.

Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 72, January 1995

(Tomas Brolin at the instant of his injury,
November 16, 1994, EC Qualifier, Sweden 2-Hungary 0)

2- Event:

Republic
of Ireland veteran Liam Brady being sent off in the 84th minute of a
UEFA European Championship qualifer vs. Bulgaria on October 14, 1987 (2 to 0
Ireland win).

Consequence:

Brady
was suspended by UEFA for four official matches.

On
November 17, 1987, Republic of Ireland
Manager Jackie Charlton ruled out Liam Brady from the Euro 88 squad unless his
4 match ban was annulled.

This
effectively ended Liam Brady’s international career and robbed him of a major
Finals appearance.

Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 98, May 1988

(Liam
Brady with West Ham United 1987/88)

3- Event:

Italy’s
Giuseppe Signori refusing to play deep left wing in the 1994 World Cup
Semifinal match vs. Bulgaria on July 13, 1994 (2 to 1 Italy win).

He
wanted to play as a forward.

Consequence:

He
effectively ruled himself out of the Final of the World Cup vs. Brazil on July
17th and also was instrumental in ending his international career.

Despite
being Italy’s top goalscorer three times in four seasons, Italy Manager Arrigo
Sacchi did not select him for the 1996 Euros and according to observers always
held this act of defiance against him.

Photo
From: Planete Foot, April 1996

(Giuseppe Signori, June 11, 1994, Italy 1-Costa
Rica 0)

4- Event:

Barcelona
being paired with Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia in the semifinals of the Cup Winners
Cup in April 1989.

Consequence:

Barcelona
won both matches (4 to 2) and (2 to 1 away). All three of CSKA’s goals were scored by Hristo Stoichkov who caught the eye of Barcelona Manager Johann
Cruyff.

He
acquired Stoichkov in Fall of 1990 and the rest is Barcelona History.